20 Common Questions About Snoring Answered

Snoring is more complicated than you might think. Because snoring is perceived as an embarrassing habit, it is not often talked about. Therefore, many people have questions about their snoring: what it is, why it’s happening and what to do about it. These are a selection of the most common questions people have about their nighttime noises …

Is my snoring a problem?

If your snoring is disrupting your sleep or your partner’s sleep, or has a potential to become obstructive sleep apnea, then it is problematic and needs addressing. There is disagreement in the medical world as to whether normal, habitual snoring (non-apnea) is physically harmful.

What can stop me from snoring?

There is no single remedy that works for all snorers. Finding a solution to your snoring requires an understanding of what is causing you to snore. Common snoring remedies include:

Observe and understand their snoring triggers. As the non-snorer, you are in the unique position of being able to see and hear the differences that the snorer may be oblivious to.

Coping with the problem:

Get a head start to bed.

Sleep separately. This is a solution that many couples cite as the saviour of their marriage. Set aside that same time to enjoy each other’s company, before eventually doing the sleeping part in separate rooms.

Use earplugs. A simple multipack of foam earplugs will do the trick, but also shop around for ones that are sleep-specific.

Get a white noise machine. This doesn’t block the snoring sound, but instead masks it as the snoring frequencies blend in with the frequencies coming from the white noise machine.

Change how you react to the snoring. The mindfulness approach is about changing the way you perceive your partner’s snoring. Try to emotionally detach from the snoring sound and instead treat it like your own personal soundscape.

What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

Apnea simply means “no breathing”. Sleep apnea is a serious condition where your airway repeatedly closes during sleep, depriving you of oxygen until you gasp awake.

The “obstructive” part refers to the fact that airway obstruction is the reason for apnea. Central sleep apnea is a different condition whereby the brain cannot properly regulate normal breathing patterns during sleep.

What does AHI mean?

AHI stands for “apnea-hypopnea index” and is a measurement of the severity of sleep apnea. It gives a value for the number of apnea/hypopnea events per hour, which is where breathing fully/partially stops for over 10 seconds.

What is CPAP?

CPAP stands for “continuous positive airway pressure” and is very effective in treating moderate to severe sleep apnea. CPAP does not give you more oxygen, instead, it gives a constant current of normal air that props open you airway to prevent it from collapsing and causing apneas.

Why do men snore more than women?

Roughly 40% of men snore, whereas only 20% of women snore. Men’s airway anatomy is more prone to snoring. This is due to an increased proportion of soft tissue and a predisposition to gain fat on the neck. Male hormones also enhance airway collapsibility whilst female hormones protect against it.

My child snores. Is this normal?

Just like adults, occasional snoring is normal and harmless for children. However, extra attention should be paid if your child snores 4 nights or more per week, and snores frequently through the night.

Is snoring genetic?

Importantly, there is no such thing as a “snoring gene”, but there is some evidence to suggest that snoring has a genetic link. Some features can be inherited from our parents that make us more likely to snore. These include:

Are there different snoring sounds? If so, what do they mean?

Yes. Different types of snoring produce different sounds depending on where the obstructions and vibrations are. We are not yet able to use snoring sound alone to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, but early studies have found that sleep apnea-related snoring has a higher peak frequency than habitual snoring.